“I’d rob watches”

Meet the real-life hero who rarely takes a holiday. He’s always multitasking between acting, producing, parenting and living life on the martial arts edge. Akshay Kumar is synonymous with action. And that aptly describes his life too. There’s simply too much action. In any given calendar year, Akshay has the most number of releases. And despite being a busy actor, he’s now producing multiple films for newcomers, actors and directors. And in the little time that’s left on his clock he manages to squeeze in humanitarian efforts and inspirational acts of physical discipline. And then even when there’s no time left in the day, the master entertainer conjures up time for candid family moments. He is the trickster extraordinaire. The star who continues to define larger-than-life heroism in Hindi movies. The fittest hero of our times. The man who speaks and kicks straight from the heart...

The buzz around Holiday is at its peak. Is this going to be an all out action blockbuster?All I can do is pray that Holiday will do the best it can. I don’t wish for anything more. Hollywood style action is the main appeal of the film, the USP is its intelligent screenplay and the most attractive part will be Sonakshi Sinha. I’ll be making a feisty new connection with my audience through this film. My question to the viewers is can you handle the tension between good and evil?

The music of your films always tends to do well. Is there a secret formula?Yes! Make good music. Forgive me but sarcasm is the best way to cope with a hundred interviews in a month. On a serious note, apart from making sure my films have memorable music, my secret formula is my son Aarav’s approval. If he likes it, it’s a hit. It’s not just about focussing on music. Instead I compile a library of songs throughout the year, from big artistes to newcomers. But I must say that Pritamji has come up with some scorchers for Holiday! Hats off! We couldn’t have asked for more.

You play an army officer in Holiday and you have a disciplined lifestyle in real life too. Is that why you fit into characters in a uniform with consummate ease?I believe all good men wear a uniform with ease. We all know how our mothers and our wives like a man in uniform. It’s something all men aspire to wear at some point in their lives, even if it’s just for a costume party. Luckily for me, I got to role play men in uniform throughout my career. But there’s nothing quite like playing an army officer. It’s every man’s dream.

It’s not every day that the Indian armed forces get their due in movies. Do you think we will one day make a great war film?That’s a good point. Our country has always respected our armed forces. To peek into the lives of the men who protect our country is always fascinating. I remember my father making me watch Haqeeqat when I was a boy. What a film! To show true love and bravery for not only your country but for your fellow soldiers was captivating. Such subjects bring a sense of reality to our screens. Even Holiday is based on real-life events. There’s a lot more to Bollywood than just commercial masala. Sometimes we forget that we are being protected every single day; we sleep in warm beds as men patrol our borders in conditions that could make you cry. That’s something to think about. Holiday sheds new light on the meaning of life, for there is danger round every corner.